Vote yes on facilities fund referendum

Published: Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 1:15 a.m. CST

I voted as an absentee voter. I hope everyone of voting age takes the opportunity to vote either before or on Nov. 6. It’s our right as well as our duty.

I voted “yes” for the referendum stated as “Shall Lee County be authorized to impose a retailer’s occupation tax and a service occupation tax at a rate of 1 percent to be used exclusively for school facility purposes.”

Why I voted yes. We all want our area’s children to receive the best education available. A well-rounded educational experience not only includes classroom and study time, but almost as important, extracurricular opportunities in sports and the arts.

Dixon Public Schools, with its portion of the school facilities fund, would like to build a sports and activity center for the almost 2,600 children in the DPS system, as well as the community. I believe a sports and activity center will be an invaluable asset to enhancing the education experience.

I think back to what vision, courage and pride Dixon citizens had in support of building a new high school in the 1920s (which consolidated two high schools), building three grade schools in the 1950s, a state-of-the-art high school gymnasium in the early 1960s, and a major addition to create the Reagan Middle School in the 1990s. Each of these facilities helps students grow academically, physically and socially.

If you have questions or concerns, email wearedixon@gmail.com.

I urge all voters, no matter what your political affiliation, to support the facilities fund.